Accumulating means for sequential sampling



2 J 1 Mm Baum W. P. KOECHEL ACCUMULATING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING June 12, 1951 Filed May 18, 1946 June 12, 1951 w, p, KQECHEL 2,556,374-

ACCUMULATING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING Filed May 18, 194.6 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTO RNEYS June 12, 1951 w KOECHEL 2,556,374

ACCUMULATING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING W rwore -Walier13hoeahel B ATTORNEY-S June 12, 1951 w, KQECHEL 2,556,374

ACCUMULATING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING mum.

INVENTOR WalierRhoecizel BY M M rm ATTORNEYS June 12,1951 w. P. KOECHEL 2,556,374

ACCUMULATING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING Filed May 18, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 as A M120 INVENTOR WaZZerPkZec/zeZ BY 50 I00 '15!) 200 250 50 3 g fl w A ORNEYS June 12, 1951 w, p KQECHEL 2,556,374

ACCUMULATING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING Filed May 1a, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Bag Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCUMULATING MEANS FOR SEQUENTIAL SAMPLING 17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to sequential sampling. Sequential sampling is done by taking account of the sequence of inspection events in which they happen and by coming to a decision of rejection or acceptance in accordance with given sequential mathematical formulae. A conventional method is to provide a chart on which are plotted data for each item inspected, the chart being so arranged that as the items are plotted the plotted points will eventually cross one of two lines. If the plotted. points cross the rejection line the lot is then declared rejected. If the plotted points eventually cross the acceptance line the lot is then declared acceptable. One does not know beforehand how many samples will need to be taken but must continue sampling until the plotted points cross either the rejection or acceptance line.

The objections to the above conventional procedure are (a) a separate chart is required for each and every lot inspected; (b) the inspector must have a rather high order of intelligence to use such a chart properly, and (c) it is tedious to stop and plot a point for every item inspected. There are also other disadvantages in this conventional practice.

One object of the present invention is the provision of novel and simple means for sequential sampling operable by the inspector whereby the above indicated objections are avoided.

More specifically, in accordance with my invention, I have devised a means or mechanism of the above indicated character whereby the inspector may be simply operating a lever or levers or equivalent devices during the inspection operation, accurately obtain a definite signal with a minimum number of inspections at the moment'when the lot is indicated as acceptable or rejectable, and further whereby the inspector may with equal facility reset the device for inspection of another lot.

A further object of the invention is a means or mechanism of the above entitled character which is further characterized by its simplicity in construction and operation and by the low cost with which it may be manufactured.

The invention is further characterized by its continuous character and once it has been a justed for the necessary quality factors, the only adjustment required is a single adjustment at the beginning of the inspection of each lot.

The invention is further characterized by the provision of means whereby the adjustments of the quality factors may be quickly and readily effected. For example, the unit may be readily and quickly adjusted with marked facility for any of the four following quality factors: p1acceptable quality value, A-manufacturers risk of rejecting lots of better quality than 111, pz-rejectable quality value, and B-customers risk of accepting lots of quality worse than 112. These four values also go to make up a fifth value known as AOQL.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a means embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a view of the underside of the lid;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View along the line 'l--! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View along the line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view along line 12-42 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view along the line [3-[3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the embodiment;

Fig. 15 is a view of the underside of the cover or lid of this embodiment;

Fig. 16 is a sectional View along the line I 6! 6 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a sectional View along the line l1l1 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the mechanism of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 19 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 20 is a further side view of a part thereof;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of this embodiment in a suitable housing or casing;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view along the line 2222 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 23 is an illustrative diagram;

Fig. is a perspective view of another modification of the invention;

Fig. 25 is an illustrative diagrammatic drawing on a large scale illustrating a feature of this modification; and

Fig. 26 is a schematic view showing a suitable indicating means for the accumulator of this embodiment.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9 oi the drawings, the embodiment of the invention therein illustrated comprises a casing l and in the particular embodiment this casing is indicated as rectangular in shape but it may be of any suitable shape. In this particular embodiment the operator or inspector of the items needs only to operate two manually operable levers 2 and 3. The lever 2 is operated for each item inspected where extreme accuracy is required. The lever 2 need not be operated every time when lever 23 is operated if a slight error can be tolerated. The lever 3 is operated for each item which does not come within the predetermined requirements as to quality acceptability.

The invention embodies means responsive to the operation of the lever 2 for each item and to the operation of the lever 3 for each rejectable item which acts as an accumulator of information indicating after a certain number of items have been inspected whether the lot being inspected should be accepted or rejected. In the particular embodiment shown this accumulating means comprises an accumulator disc "3. This accumulator disc t rests upon a gear member and by friction between the two members the disc 4 follows the movements of the gear 5. The gear 5 and the accumulator disc are mounted for movem nt about a stud The disc 4 is operated in clockwise direction (Fig. 3) by means of a drive mechanism interposed between the gear and the operating lever 2. This drive mechanism includes a worm gear I journaled on two studs 8 and ii. The worm gear '1 and its shaft I are driven by a ratchet wheel ill which is fastened to the shaft. The ratchet wheel lil is operated by a pawl ll which is pivotally mounted by the pivot l l on one side of the lever 2. This pawl H is maintained in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel is at all times by means of a spring it which is fastened to a pin 53 passing through a slot formed in the lever 2 and mounted on the pawl H. The other end of the spring i2 is fastened to the shaft 1 carrying the worm l and the ratchet wheel Iii. The lever 2 the particular embodiment shown is biased in an upward direction by a spring which is fastened at one end to a stud or post is carried by the lever 2 and is anchored at its other end to a post or stud ll. In order to prevent counter motion of the ratchet wheel lb in the opposite direction from that imparted to it by the pawl ii there is provided a pawl i8, this pawl being pivotally mounted on a stud id. The pawl I8 is biased into engagement with the ratchet wheel is by means of a spring this pawl prevents backing up of the ratchet wheel Hi when the pawl l! and the lever 2 are drawn to the upper position by the spring 55. The gear 5 has imparted thereto small angular movements each time the lever 2 is operated, the angular movement of the gear 5 being determinedby the ratio of the drive comprising the ratchet wheel is, the worm l and the diameter of the gear 5. As indicated above, the accumulater disc 6 rests upon the gear 5 and is rotated therewith through the angular movement imparted to the gear 5 by the lever 2.

The operation of the lever 3 rotates the accumulator disc in the counterclockwise direction (Fig. 3) counter to the rotation effected by the lever 2. This drive between the lever 3 iii) and the accumulator disc 6 comprises a pawl 22 carried by an arm 23 and engaging the serrated edge 5' of the accumulator disc. The arm 23 is directly operated by the lever 3, the latter being provided with an upstanding portion 3 which projects upwardly above and behind the arm 23 so that when the lever 3 is pushed downwardly the arm 23 is given a counterclockwise movement (Fig. 3) to operate the disc 4 independently of the gear 5 upon which the accumulator disc 4 rests. The arm 23 is biased rearwardly by means of a spring 25 fastened at one end to a stud 28 fastened to the frame or casing and at its other end to a stud 21 carried by the arm 23. The biasing of the arm 23 by the spring 25 operates through the upward extension it of the lever 3 to hold the lever 3 in the upper position. The pawl 22 is arranged to engage the serrated edge '3' of the accumulator disc l only while the lever S being pushed downwardly. This is effected by a means comprising an escutchocn. pin 28 carried by the pawl and projecting through a slot in the arm 23 to a point above the arm 23. This projecting escutcheon pin 28 is biased by a spring 29 whose free end engages the projecting portion of the pin and tends to cause the pawl 22 to engage the serrated edge of the accumulator disc 4. Normally, however, with the lever 3 in its uppermost position the pawl 22 is disengaged from contact with the serrated edge 4 of the accumulator disc 4 by means of a finger 30 engaging the pin 26 on the opposite side from that of the spring 29, the slot 23 in the arm 23 permitting relative movement of the pin 28 and the arm 23. The finger 3%] is mounted in any suitable manner as for example on a stud 30'. Thus the moment the lever B is moved slightly from its uppermost position the pin is free to move under the influence of the spring 29 to bring the pawl 22 into engagement with the accumulator disc A to drive it. The downward stroke of the lever 3 imparts an angular movement to the accumulator disc which is substantially larger than the angular movement imparted to the disc by the downward stroke of the lever 2. The lever 23 is pivotally mounted at its inner end on a stud 32 and this stud is provided with an adjustable screw stop for engaging the arm 23 and thereby limiting its clockwise movement to a predetermined amount (Fig. 3).

The accumulator disc :3 while the inspection of the items continues finally assumes either a position where the lot of items being inspected. is acceptable or a position indicating that the lot is not acceptable. These positions of the accumulator disc 3 may be indicated to the inspector in any suitable manner. In the particular embodiment shown means are provided for giving a visual indication to the inspector when the disc reaches one such position and another visual indication to the inspector when the disc reaches the other position. The visual indicating means comprises incandescent electric lamp bulbs 35 and 36, the bulb 35 when lighted indicating that the lot is acceptable and the bulb 35 when lighted indicating that the lot should be rejected. These lamp bulbs 35 and 3% are mounted so as to be visible above the casing l and in the particular embodiment shown the bulb bases project through the cover l and the center contacts of these bulbs are connected by means of wires 35 and 35 leading respectively to contacts 3 and 38. The contact in the particular embodiment shown is in the form of a stud or post mounted on an adjustable disc 39, this disc being mounted on a hollow stud 4| mounted on the underside of the cover i. The contact 31 is similarly in the form of a stud or post mounted on an adjustable disc 40 which is also mounted on the same hollow stud 41 for adjustment thereabout. The contact posts or studs 31 and 38 project downwardly from the lid 1' toward the accumulator disc 4 and the gear 5.

The accumulator disc 4 actuates a switch control member or arm 43 which plays between the contact studs 31 and 38 and when this contact control arm or member 43 engages either the contact 31 or 38 the corresponding visual signal is given. In the particular embodiment shown this contact arm is actuated by a means as follows.

The arm 43 is provided with a right-angular part 43 which is journaled in the hollow stud 4| and this part 43' has fastened to it an adjusting thumb nut 44 disposed above the cover I for setting the arm 43. In the particular embodiment shown the drive between the disc 4 and the arm 43 is a friction drive, there being mounted on the arm 43 a cylindrical weight 45 whose lower end rests upon the accumulator disc 4 at a point adjacent its outer edge. The arm part 43' has free up and down movements permitting the weight 45 to rest upon the disc 4 with the full weight of the arm 43, 43' and the weight G5. Thus when the disc 4 moves it carries with it the weight 45 and the contact control arm 43. At the same time this friction drive permits the setting of the arm 43 from the outside of the casing by engaging the thumb nut 44. A pointer 46 is mounted on the thumb nut 44 and on the upper side of the lid l is disposed a gauge or scale mark 41 which is the starting mark to which the pointer is adjusted before the use of the machine in connection with the inspection of each new lot of items. The calibrating marl: 4! establishes a starting point which is used to orient the position of contact studs 31 and 38, and at the be ginning of the inspection of each lot of items the pointer 46 is adjusted to a position in line with the calibrating marl: 4-7.

The electrical circuit including the contact postsil'l and 38 and the lamp bulbs 35 and 35 includes a battery source 50 which is connected with the terminals 5| and 52. A wire 52 leads from the terminal 52 to the hollow stud 4| through a terminal 53 and thus the contact arm 43, 43 is energized by the conductor 52 and the terminal 53 through the hollow stud 4|. This forms one terminal for the lamps 35 and depending upon whether the arm 43 is in contact with 3! or 38. The other battery terminal iii is connected by a wire 54 with a common contact spring 55, the ends of the contact spring being connected with the shells of both lamps.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 9 and as there shown adjusted, the inspection is on a basis of roughly 5% manufacturers risk and 5% customers risk. but this embodiment of the invention is provided with adjustments to vary either the manufacturers risk or the customers risk or both.

The adjustment of the embodiment above described is based a relationship shown in Fig. 23. this chart the dot and dash line represents the slope. It is the reciprocal. of this slope which is translated into a ratio of angular movement of accumulator disc 4 as eifected by levers 2 and 3. Thus the slope shown in Fig. 23 is rough- 1y .018. The reciprocal of this is roughly 55 and this means that lever 2 would cause an angular movement of disc 4 of that caused by lever 3. On Fig. 23 there are also two solid lines parallel to the dot and dash line. The upper line, called the rejection line is displaced from the dot and dash line by a value known as H2. The lower solid line, called the acceptance line is displaced by a value known as H1. This embodiment, as indicated above, is provided with an adjusting means indicated generally at A for adjusting the ratio of the movements of the accumulator disc 4 eflected by the levers 2 and 3 and this provides a means for changing the slope S corresponding to the ratio of movements of the levers 2 and 3. This embodiment is also provided with means for varying the displacements of the acceptance line and the rejection line from the slope S indicated by the H1 and on the chart and this means is indicated at B. This diagram, Fig. 23, is based on the conventional formula for the quality factors in the sequential sampling referred to above as follows:

A Log P,1P1 ni-a Log Pg lP Log F1 wherein The adjusting means A for the ratio of movements comprises a variable stop 60 which is mounted on a gear 6! journaled on a stud 52 mounted in the side of the casing I and this stop 59 projects over the lever 2 to limit the stroke of the lever 2. Thus by adjusting the gear 5| the stop 55 may be moved up or down as may be desired to obtain the desired slope. The gear 6! meshes with a small pinion S3 which is mounted to rotate with an exterior adjusting knob 64 and this l-znob is provided with a pointer 64' which traverses a slope scale 65. As indicated above this is adjusted in the particular embodiment shown for a slope of .013 or roughly that, the reciprocal of that being 55 as appears on the slope scale.

For convenience, the scales of the adjusting means B are indicated at E1 and H2 correspond ing to the lettering of the chart of Fig. 23, these scales being fixed on the upper side of the lid l of the casing. For the scale H1 an adjustable knob 65 with a suitable pointer, or as shown in the drawing, an indicating mark N, indicates the position oi the knob relatively to the scale H1. The knob 68 is mounted on a stud projecting downwardly through the lid l and to this stud is fixed a pulley 6'! which drives the disc 39 carrying the contact post 38 through a belt or cord 58 and a tension spring 68' is incorporated in it as a part of the belt. An adjusting knob 69 is also mounted on the casing lid and this also carries an indicating mark 69' which cooperates with the scale H2. The knob 69 is mounted on a stud which projects downwardly through the lid and upon this stud is mounted a pulley H; which rotates with the knob and drives the disc 49 through a belt or cord 1 I. Thus by adjusting the knobs B and 59 the contact control posts 3! and 38 are adjusted relatively to each other and to the contact controlling arm 43.

In the embodiment of Figs. to 17, the casing is indicated at the numeral l and a cover or lid 1' is provided for the casing. Similarly to the above modification a worm shaft '1 having a worm is journaled in studs or posts mounted on the bottom of the casing and the worm 1 drives a worm gear 5 which is revolvably mounted on a stud 6 carried by the bottom of the casing. An accumulator disc 4 is journaled for rotation about a shaft 3 projecting up from the stud 6 and this accumulator disc 4 rests by gravity upon the gear 5 and is frictionally driven thereby. The shaft '1 carries a ratchet wheel I!) which is keyed to the shaft and a pawl ii is pivotally fastened to the side of the lever 2 and the toe of the pawl is maintained in contact with the serrated edge of the ratchet wheel 10 by means of a spring i2 fastened at one end to a pin i3 mounted on the pawl and fastened at its other end to a bracket Tl carried by the casing. The lever 2 is journaled on the shaft 1 at a point between the ratchet wheel and a post or stud l5 and a spring 15 fastened at one end to the lever 2 and fastened at its other end, as indicated by screw 15 to the bottom of the casing, maintains the outer end of lever 2 in the upper position. A leaf spring 1'! is fastened at one end by the screw 16, with the free end of TI bearing against the side or" the ratchet wheel lit to create thrust on shaft 1' to prevent lost motion. A pawl 18 is provided on the opposite side of the ratchet wheel I0 from the pawl i l and is pivotally mounted on a bracket 18 fastened to the bottom of the casing and a spring 19 bears against the pawl 73 maintaining the latter in engagement with the serrated edge of the ratchet wheel to avoid backup of the ratchet. The downward movement of the lever 2 results in the rotation of the ratchet wheel through an angle determined by the length of the downward stroke. This downward stroke is limited by an adjustable stop 60 whose free end is disposed above the lever 2, the latter being mounted in engagement with the adjustable stop by means of the spring 15'. The adjustable stop 60 is carried by one end of a gear segment 80 which is fastened to the journal 80 which is journaled in the side of the casing. The gear segment and the stop are adjusted by a knob 64' which is journaled in the side of the casing and carries on the inner end a gear 53 which meshes with the gear segment 89. The knob 64 is provided with a pointer 83 traversing a suitable scale as indicated in Fig. 11 calibrated to indicate values of 1/ S.

The lever 3 corresponding to the lever 3 of the above described embodiment projects out through a horizontal slot in the end of the casing and is moved by the inspector to operate the accumulator disc 3 independently of the gear 5 upon which it rests and in opposition to the movement imparted by the lever 2. The lever 3' is mounted on an arm 34 freely journaled on the shaft 6' and a spring 35 fastened at one end to the arm and at the other end to a pin projecting up from a vertical stud 86, the latter being mounted on the bottom of the casing. The spring 85 biases the lever 3' in a clockwise direction (Fig. 12).

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This arm 84 carries a pawl 8'! on its under side and this pawl is urged by a spring 81' in a direction to engage the serrated edge of the accumulator disc t so as to engage the accumulator disc and operate the same when the lever 3' is moved counter clockwise to indicate a rejectable item. In order to maintain the pawl 81 out of engagement with the accumulator disc 4 when the lever 3 is not being operated, a fixed finger 88 engages a heel 89 of the pawl to maintain the toe of the pawl out of engagement with the accumulator disc. This finger 88 is provided with a supporting part 88 which is fastened to the stud 86. The serrated edge of the accumulator disc 4 is provided with a gap 4' for a purpose hereinafter described.

Similarly to the above described embodiment the indicators are visual indicators in the form of electric light bulbs 35 and 36. When the accumulator disc 4 reaches either of its limiting positions for the particular adjustment range, one of these indicators is operated. A pair of gear elements 9d and 9! are journaled about an insulating sleeve 92 carried by the underside of the cover or lid l and provided with a disc 9| in engagement with the underside of the lid. These gear elements 9!! and 9! are insulated from each other by means of an insulating sleeve 93 and disc 83 and a fastening or holding nut 94 disposed about the sleeve 93 holds the gears and Si! in assembled relation. These gear elements 9% and 9! carry the contact elements controlling the circuits of the lamp bulbs 35 and 36. One of these contacts is a pin 95 carried by the gear 9! and the other contact is carried by the gear 99 and is indicated at 96. The circuit controlling member actuated by the accumulator disc 4 comprises a movable arm 91 which is fastened to a shaft 98 journaled in the bushing 92 and the arm 9'! is provided with an extension 81 which is offset in a vertical direction from 91. The outer end of 91 at one extreme of its range makes contact with the pin contact 95 carried by gear 9 I. On its upper side the extension 91' carries a contact making lug 99 for engaging the contact 96 carried by the gear 90 at the other extreme of the movement of the arm 91. In the particular embodiment shown the contact pin 96 is of circular shape and the lug 99 is provided with a flattened side 99 which frictionally engages the periphery of the contact member 96 to close the circuit and at the same time permits the passage of the extension 91' to opposite sides of the contact 96 for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The frictional contact is facilitated by the extension 91' being a leaf spring and yielding slightly downwardly when the lug 99 engages the contact 96. The contact arm 91 is connected with the common wire I00 by means of a leaf spring contact Hll which is fastened to a stud llll carried on the under side of the cover, the free end of the leaf spring I0! bearing against the inner end of the arm 91. The center contact of the socket for the lamp 35 is connected by means of a conductor I02 leading to a leaf spring contact I82 which frictionally engages the side of the gear elements 9|. The center contact of the socket for the lamp 36 is connected by a. wire I 03 with a leaf spring contact I03 whose free end bears upon the under side of the gear 90. The battery HM is connected in circuit in any suitable manner (omitted for convenience) to energize the circuit.

In this embodiment thee ontact arm 91, 91 is not frictionally driven by the accumulator disc but is coupled thereto by means of a coupling pin 9 I85 carried by the arm $7 with its free end resting in a recess I96 formed on the upper surface of the accumulator disc 3 near the periphery thereof and roughly 45 from the gap 4 formed in the serrated edge or" the accumulator disc.

The shaft 98 carrying the arm *9? projects up through the lid I and is fastened to a pointer 32, the latter having a marker 41 indicating the position to which the pointer it may be adjusted from the exterior of the casing for the beginning of the inspection of a lot of items.

The gear discs carrying the contacts 95 and 96 may be adjusted to vary the angular displace ment between the contacts 95 and 95 by means of the knobs IN and IE8, these knobs being journaled in the lid and carrying pinions I81 and I08. These knobs IE3? and I08 are provided with pointers traversing respectively the scales H2 and H1 provided on the lid.

The purpose of gap 4 is to prevent accumulator disc 2 from over travelling. This is accomplished by gap 4' reaching the circumferential point where pawl e! is in operation. When it reaches this point, there are no teeth for pawl 87 to engage and thus this represent the maximum distance which disc 4 can travel.

The purpose of permitting contact lug 99 to pass to the opposite side of contact 96 is to prevent jamming. If this underpass were not provided, then contact 96 and lug 92 would become jammed after a certain amount of strokes by lever 2 and. this might cause internal damage to the instrument. This underpass of lug 99 and contact 98 thus acts as a safety device.

In the embodiment of Figs. 18 to 22 provision is made for simultaneous accumulation of various classes of defects in the same product and in this particular embodiment provision is made for three classes of defects. For example, if a prod uct has defects which may be classified as critimajor and minor these may have AOQL values of 1%, 2% and 4% respectively. By the use of this embodiment the inspector may simultaneously accumulate the data of three classes of defects with no more efiort than is required. to accumulate the data for a single class of defects as provided for in the modifications described above and provision is made for translating the data accumulated for each class of defects into signals either collectivel or individually.

Referring to this embodiment the unit comprises a casing I28 illustrated somewhat diagrammatically and having therewithin the operative unit. This unit comprises a multiple number of discs and in the particular embodiment shown there are three such accumulator discs I2i, i222 and I23 projecting out through slots above the casing 526 so as to be readily engageable by the fingers for adjustment. These discs are operated in one direction by levers I2 I I22 and I23, these levers projecting out through slots formed in the side of the casing. That is, these accumulator discs are operated individually by these levers to indicate defective data of three different classes of defects as, for example, critical, major and minor. The discs are operated together and simultaneously by the lever I24. That is they are operated in unison and in the opposite direction of rotation from that im parted by the individual operating levers I'2I, I22 and I23. The accumulator discs I2I, I22 and I23 are journaled on a shaft I25, this shaft being mounted at its ends on standards I26 and I21, the standards being mounted on a base I28 which may form, if desired, the bottom of the 10 casing I20. The shaft R25 is provided with collars or flanges I29, lite and 932' against which the accumulator discs i iil, I22 and I23 frictionally bear respectively. The levers i2I, I22. and I23 are pivotally fastened to one side of carrier arms which are journaled o the shaft I25. These are all identical and a description of one will be suiilcient. carrier i233 has at its inner end an opening to accommodate the shaft I25 when assembled thereon with the arm freely oscillatable about the shaft With a minimum of friction. The lovers are pivoted to the sides of the outer ends of these arms for limited relative pivotal Ill-3V6? nt in plane of the disc and the pivotal axis 0' each lever is nearer the upper edge of the carrying arm than the lower edge and similarly with respect to the inner end or the lever. Accorwith the inner end of each lever being somewhat closely disposed to the periphery of correspondng disc the lower edge oi the inner end o the lever engages the periphery of the dis d" g the first movement of the lever and there c. the rest of the downward movement of the lever results in the rotation of its disc along with the lever and its carrying arm.

Each lever is provided with a spring I34, the lower end of the spring being fastened to the lever in any suitable manner as, for example, by having a straight end part passing through an opening indicated at I35 and bent over to engage underneath the lever while the upper end of the spring is fastened to an L--shaped bracket memberiiit carried by a cross frame member I31 mounted on studs li t and E39. These springs tend to hold the levers I2l, 522, I23 in the uppermost position. The upper limit of the strokes of the levers is limited screws Mil passing downwardly through the frame member Iil'i and engaged by the outer ends of the arms IE3. In order to assure the movement of the levers I2I, I22, :23 independently of the carrying arms to clutch the disc, the movement of the arms is resisted by spring members MI, I42, I43 bearing against the ends of the lever and in the particular embodiment shown these three braking springs are formed from a single piece of sprin metal caught between the L-shaped member I36 and the frame member itl. In order to increase the frictional resistance or the discs I2I, I22 and I 23 to rotation on the shaft I25 spring discs I44 are provided between the carrier arms and the discs to bias the discs against the collars or flanges I28, itil and ltl. Thus by operating either of the levers 52!, E22, 523' its corresponding acculator disc is moved through a predetermined angle.

The shaft is provided with a groove I46 all the way around lor the reception of the spring discs I44 and each of the latter is provided with a radial slot extending from the periphery past the center thereof for resting in the groove. This permits a spring disc to be slid laterally over the shaft into the groove for anchoring in position. The disc as indicated, is sprung or has a constraint imparted thereto as by dishing it out so that when the disc is inserted in position between an arm l33 and a disc it frictionally engages the disc so as to cause the disc to rotate with the shaft E25 by friction coupling but still permitting the individual actuation of the accumulator discs by the levers llil', 22 and E23.

Each of the discs is provided with a spaced pair of signal actuating fingers I4? and I48, these actuators I4? and I42 corresponding respectively to the acceptable and rejectable signals. In the particular embodiment shown these signal actuators I41 and I48 operate to close electric signal circuits, the current signal including a contact arm I49 and the red signal circuit including a contact arm I50, these contact or spring arms I49, I58 being insulatedly mounted in a block II which in turn is mounted on the base I28. A spring arm I52 which is also insulatedly mounted in the block I'5I projects into the path of the actuators I41 and I48. Normally the contact I52 carried by the spring member I52 i out of contact with either the contact I49 or the contact I50 but when the end of the spring I52 is engaged by the actuator E41 the circuit is closed at I50, I52 to light a green lamp I54. The actuator I48 on the other hand closes the circuit between the strips I52 and I49 to light the red light I55. A source of current as, for example, a battery I55 is illustrated for energizing the signal lamps I54 and I55.

The accumulator discs IZI, I22and I23 are as indicated above operated in unison by a lever memben I24, this lever member being pivoted at its inner end at I51 to the side of the bracket I21 and is provided intermediate its ends with an offset part I24. A compression spring I55 is fastened to the underside of the offset part I24 of the lever I24 and is anchored at its lower end to the base I23 by means of a stud I58 extending up into the spring. This spring biases the lever I24 upwardly against the underside of the frame member I31 with the latter forming the limit of the upper part of the stroke of the lever. The stroke of the lever I24 is limited in the downward direction by a pin I59 projecting laterally from the stud I39. This lever I24 imparts a small angular movement at each stroke to the discs I2I, I22 and I23 through a pawl-ratchet-worm gear drive. The shaft I25 carries a worm gear IBI and a Worm drive I52 meshes with the gear I5I, this worm I62 being carried by a shaft I52 which is journaled at one end in the frame member I31 and at its other end in a bracket I63 projecting upwardly from the base. This shaft I62 carries a ratchet wheel I54 and the lever I24 carries a pawl I85 which engages the ratchet Wheel I54 to operate the shaft I62 during the upward stroke of the lever I24. This pawl I55 is pivotally fastened to the offset part I24 of the lever and a spring I65 urges the pawl into operative engagement with the ratchet wheel, the upper end of this spring being fastened as by a pin I61 to the lever and the lower end thereof being attached to a pin I68 to the lower end of the pawl I55 below the pivot thereof. The lever I24 is operated each time an item is inspected and this actuates the discs I2I, I22 and I23 through angular movements depending upon the stroke of the lever I24 and the ratio of speed reduction between the lever I24 and the shaft I25. This movement of the discs for each actuation of the lever I24 corresponds in function to the movement of the levers 2 of the above described modifications and the accumulator discs I2I, I22 and I23 are actuated in a direction to cause the actuators I41 to operate the signal device I54 which corresponds to an acceptable lot of items.

On the other hand the actuation of the individual levers I2I, I22 and I23 actuates their corresponding accumulator discs in directions to cause the signal actuators I48 to actuate the signal device I55 or devices which correspond to rejectable items. As the inspector proceeds with the, inspection of a lot of items the lever I24 is operated for each item and one or more of the levers I2I, I22 and I23 is actuated depending upon whether that particular item is rejectable as having a critical, major or minor defect. If either a critical, major or minor defect is indicated before a signal indicating that the lot is acceptable is given, the inspector may proceed if desired with the inspection of the lot to determine whether one or both of the other defective ignals corresponding to the other classes of defects are given before acceptable signals are given. The display of a rejectable signal for either of the classes of defects may of course be the determining factor as to whether the lot is rejectable as a whole but by continuing the tests and inspection of the lot after one rejectable signal is given, one can determine whether the percentage of items having the other defects is unduly large.

At the beginnning of the inspection of a lot of items the accumulator discs I2I, I22 and I23 are adjusted to a predetermined position or positions with the spring contact arm I52 or the outer end thereof being disposed at a predetermined point between the actuators I41 and I48. This relationship from the beginning of the inspection is indicated by indicator marks I1I, I12 and I13 respectively on the peripheries of the discs I2I, I22 and I23 and the arrangement is preferably such that the accumulator discs are adjusted to a position where these marks are in line with each other. In the particular embodiment shown there is a pair of signals I54 and I55 for each of the accumulator discs but it is understood that if desired a single pair of signals I54 and I55 may be connected in multiple across the controlling contacts I49, I50 and I52 so as to respond to the first of the three accumulator discs to actuate a signal.

In the particular embodiment shown I have indicated a counter disc I15 which is also journaled on the shaft I25 for frictional'drive thereby similarly to the mounting of the accumulator disc. This disc I15 has a scale I15 thereon, and a fixed pointer I11 which is carried by the member I2? is juxtaposed to the scale I15 to indicate the number of items inspected. At the beginning of the inspection of each lot the disc I15 is adjusted to bring the pointer I11 to zero on the scale.

In the embodiment of Figs. 24 to 26 provision is made for the accumulation and coordination for a single class of defects and in this embodiment this is effected by a multiple number of accumulator coordinated discs, there being two such discs 200 and 2III. in this particular embodiment. The inspector imparts to these two discs 200 and 2ill increments of movements during the inspection of a lot of items to accumulate the data and the discs carry indicating means for indicating when the lot of items is rcjectable or is acceptable. This indicator means comprises in this particular embodiment an electrical contact 252 on the disc 205 and the contacts 233 and 204 carried by the disc 20 I. The arrangement is such that when the relative position of the two discs causes the contact 282 to engage the contact 253 a signal lamp 203 is lighted to show the lot is acceptable and when the contact 204 engages the contact 202 the lamp 204 is lighted to indicate a rejectable lot. The disc 20B is shown in dot and dash lines to distinguish it from the disc 25I which is drawn in full lines in Fig. 26.

Any suitable mechanical movements may be employed for imparting to the discs 206 and 20I the movements thereof required to give the desired indications when the indicator 2G2 engages the indicators 203 and 294. In the particular embodiment shown the two discs are mounted for rotation about the same axis and are rotated unison and in the same direction to impart to the discs differential angles of movement while for each rejectable item only one of the discs is operated, but in the particular embodiment this operation is always in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the other disc. mechanical movement illustrated comprises ratchet wheels carried by the discs which are for convenience designated 2&6 for disc and designated 20! for disc 20%. These ratchet wheels are actuated by a pair of levers 2i i and 2 52 with a pawl 209 carried by the lever 2 I l for operation of the ratchet Wheel 20B and a pawl 2H3 carried by the lever 2i2 for actuating the ratchet wheel 20!. These levers are pivoted on the axis of the discs 2% and 220i and are actuated by the inspector by engaging the outer ends 2 i i and 2 I The lever 2 H is actuated for each item inspected and provision is made for simultaneously actuating the lever 2i2 when the lever 2H is operated. This is effected through the cross bar 222 carried by the lever 2H and en aging a groove on the upper surface of the lever H2. The lever 212 however can be actuated independentl to actuate the disc ratchet 2M.

The differential movements imparted to the discs 200 and Zfil when the lever is operated are efiected by the ratchet wheels 26G 2 25 being provided with teeth and with diameters to effect this purpose. ment shown the ratchet wheels 2st and are shown of the same diameter and the ratchet Wheel 2823' is provided with a lesser number oi ratchet teeth than the number of teeth on the ratchet 261. For example, the ratchet 26E? may be provided with 22 teeth while the ratchet 2t! is provided with 24 teeth and this results in the ratchet wheel 200' achieving a greater angle oi movement at each stroke of the lever 25! than the movement of the ratchet 223i. differential movements are indicated sciiemati cally in Fig. 25 which shows the ratchet teeth disposed in straight lines for convenience. relative displacement of the ratchet teeth in ri 25 also represents one angular relation between the discs 203 and 23! which carry the indicator contacts. The stroke of the lever 2H must always be at least as large as the distance N between adjacent teeth of the ratchet wheel Edi, in the particular embodiment shown, and in 25 the stroke is indicated as equal to the dis tance between these teeth although it is understood that the stroke may be slightly larger. With this arrangement although the pawls and 2H! move through the same distance at each stroke of the lever 2, it is observed that the ratchet 20 l is actually actuated through a shorter distance due to the shorter distance between the ratchet teeth of the ratchet 20 l Accordingly at each actuation of the lever 2H the disc 200 is moved through a predetermined angle to move the indicator contact 262 through that angle while the disc ZGI is actuated through a slightly lesser angle to move the contacts 253 and 204 through that lesser angle but the same direction. When the lever 212 is actuated the ratchet 21" with its disc 2M is actuated through the angle of the stroke of the lever 2l2 to carry the contacts 203 and 204 through an angular distance equal to the stroke of the lever In the particular embcdi-- i These two 212. The lever 2 is biased by the spring 214 to the upper limit of its movement and a similar spring 2l5 maintains the lever 222 against the bar H3 in the normal position. This actuation is as indicated above, for each rejectable item. Each of the ratchet wheels 280 and 26V is prevented from backward rotation by suitable pawls, the ratchet 299' being arrested against backward movements by the pawl 26!! and the ratchet 29 l being held against backward movement by a similar pawl 216. With the assumed 22 ratchet teeth for the ratchet 2GB and 24 teeth for the ratchet 2M these pawls 269' andiit may be either located at 180 from the pawls 289 and 2H; or they may be located in the vicinity of the ratchets 209 and 2H). In Fig. 24 these pawls 209, 2H1 are illustrated as disposed 180 from the pawls 28S and 210. In the schematic Fig. 25 pawls 269, 2113' are illustrated as being located at 180 from the position shown in Fig. 24.

Thus by coordinating the movements of the discs 20?: and 2B! and the contacts 282, 293 and 2234 the data for automatically indicating rejectable or acceptable lots may be obtained with a minimum number of items inspected. In the particular embodiment the discs 2% and 26! may be adjusted at the beginning of an inspection by simply adjusting the discs in the right direction to bring them into predetermined relation as, for example, with the indicator contact 202 disposed from the contacts 293 and 204. The discs may be provided on their peripheries with markers or other means to indicate this adjustment at the beginning of an inspection operation is obtained. Such a marker is shown at 216 on the disc 260 and at 2H on the disc 2M both of which markers must be in line for proper adjustment.

The invention has been described with more particular reference to arriving at a decision as to whether any particular lot of items includes more than the permissible items which for one reason or another are rejectable. For example, such as manufactured items wherein it is desired to maintain a predetermined standard of uniformity in quality. That is, a lot of such items is said to be rejectable if the faulty or defective items are above a predetermined percentage, or a lot is acceptable when the percentage of faulty or defective items is within the tolerated percentage. However, the invention is usable in the reverse sense as, for example, for determining whether a lot of defective or faulty items contains more than the tolerated percentage of good or acceptable items, and in this case the so-called rejectable actuator would be operated for each good or acceptable item while the other actuator would be operated at least for each faulty or rejectabie item. It is understood also that the invention is of more general application and usable in any case for arriving at a decision as to whether a lot of items should be classified one way or another or whether segregatable items, events or other data by reason of some difference should fall in one, two or more categories.

I claim:

1. A sequential sampling means comprising an accumulator disc, manually operable means for rotating the disc through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item, manually opermeans; for rotating the disc in an opposite direction through a different predetermined angle for each defective item, and means indicating when the disc reaches a predetermined 11'? it of movement in either direction, said limits of move ment in two opposite directions being related rel spectively to the acceptable and unacceptable quality values expressed in percentages and to the percentage risk in each instance.

2. In a means of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said disc is frictionally mounted upon a driven disc and said driven disc is rotated by the means operable to rotate the accumulator disc through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item.

3. In a means of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the accumulator disc moves an indicator control member which in one extreme position indicates an acceptable lot and in the other extreme position indicates a rejectable lot.

4. In a means of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein there are provided a multiple number of accumulator discs with means for opcrating said discs through a predetermined angle by a common means and a separate means for operating each disc in the opposite direction.

5. In a means of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein there are provided a multiple number of accumulator discs with means for operating said discs through a predetermined angle by a common means and a separate means for operating each disc in the opposite direction and a counter which is operated by the common actuating means.

6. A sequential sampling means comprising an accumulator disc, means operable to rotate the disc through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item, means for rotating the disc in an opposite direction through a difierent predetermined angle for each defective item, means indicating when the disc reaches a predetermined limit of movement in either direction, means for adjusting the range of movement of the disc, and means for adjusting the angular movements of the disc corresponding to each operation after the inspection of an item, said limits of movement in two opposite directions being related respectively to the acceptable and unacceptable quality values expressed in percentages and to the percentage risk in each instance.

7. A sequential sampling means comprising an accumulator disc, means operable to rotate the disc through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item, means for rotating the disc in an opposite direction through a different predetermined angle for each defective item, means indicating when the disc reaches a predetermined limit of movement in either direction, and means for adjusting the limits of movements of said disc, said limits of movement in two opposite directions being related respectively to the acceptable and unacceptable quality values expressed in percentages and to the percentage risk in each instance.

8. A sequential sampling means comprising an accumulator disc, manually operable means operable to rotate the disc through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item, manually operable means for rotating the disc in an opposite direction through a predetermined angle 01 each defective item, and means indicating when the disc reaches a predetermine'; limit of movement in either direction, the accumulator disc moving an indicator control member which in one extreme position indicates an acceptable lot and in the other extreme position indicates a rejectable lot and separate signal means for the extreme positions of said indicator member which are controlled by said indicator member.

9. A sequential sampling means comprising an accumulator disc, manually operable means op erable to rotate the disc through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item, manually operable means for rotating the disc in an opposite direction through a predetermined angle for each defective item, and means indicating when the disc reaches a predetermined limit of movement in either direction, the accumulator disc moving an indicator control member which in one extreme position indicates an acceptable lot and in the other extreme position indicates a rejectable lot and separate signal means for extreme positions of said indicator member which are controlled by said indicator member and including control elements at the extreme positions of the control member which are adjustably mounted for varying the spacing thereof and the range of the indicator member.

10. A sequential sampling means comprising an accumulator disc, manually operable means operable to rotate the disc through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item, manually operable means for rotating the disc in an opposite direction through a predetermined angle for each defective item, and means indicating when the disc reaches a predetermined limit of movement in either direction, the accumulator disc moving an indicator control member which in one extreme position indicates an acceptable lot and in the other extreme position indicates a rejectable lot, said indicator member being coupled to the disc for positive actuation.

11. A sequential sampling means comprising two or more accumulator discs mounted for frictional drive on a common shaft, a manually operated lever for operating said shaft through a predetermined angle at least for each acceptable item, a separate lever for each disc for operating the same through a predetermined angle corresponding to a particular quality defect of the items being inspected, said separate levers operating the discs in opposite direction to that imparted by the first-named lever and certain of said discs carrying spaced stops for actuating different signals at the limits of movement of the discs.

12. In a sequential sampling device the combination of an indicator with means for actuating the indicator through a predetermined distance at least for each acceptable item, means for varying said distance, and means for actuating the indicator in the opposite direction through a different predetermined distance for each defective item, said predetermined distances being of unequal value.

13. In a sampling means, the combination of a control element with means for moving the control element through a predetermined distance at least for each acceptable item, means for varying said predetermined distance, means for moving the control element in the opposite direction through a predetermined and larger distance for each defective item, adjustable signal control elements between which said control element moves and separate signal means actuated by said signal control elements when the first-named control element reaches the signal control elements.

14. In a sequential sampling means, disc means for accumulating data from the final result of which one of at least two decisions is to be reached and means for imparting movement to at least a part of said disc means for items of one category and imparting movements to at least a part of said disc means for items of am other category and means actuated by at least a part of said disc means for ultimately indieating one of at least two possible decisions, with the ratio of movements imparted to the indicating means by the movement imparting means determining the quality factors to be indicated by the indicating means.

15. A sequential sampling means comprising a driven disc, a ratchet wheel and gearing means for rotating said disc, a lever and pawl means for said ratchet wheel, a stop for determining the stroke of said lever and means for adjusting the same, an accumulator disc resting upon said first-named disc and frictionally driven thereby in one direction, a lever pawl device for directly engaging said accumulator disc to rotate the same upon the first-named disc, means for normally holding said last-named pawl out of engagement with the accumulator disc, a pair of separately adjustable discs carrying signal control elements and an indicator member driven by the accumulator disc to play between said control elements.

16. In a means of the character set forth in claim 9 wherein the control member is coupled to the accumulator disc for positive drive and the accumulator disc is provided with a serrated edge for engagement with the last-named pawl, a gap being formed in said serrated edge and the control elements comprising contacts with the control member bein adapted to pass from one side to the other of one of the control elements.

17. In a means for sequential sampling, accumulating means for accumulating data from the final result of which one of at least two decisions is to be reached, a manually operable actuator for at least a part of said accumulating means for moving the same through a predetermined distance for one category, a manually operable actuator for moving at least a part of said accumulating means through another predetermined distance for another category, said movements being related respectively to the acceptable and unacceptable quality values expressed in percentages and to the percentage risk in each instance and means actuated by at least a part of said accumulating means for ultimately indicating one of at least two possible decisions.

WALTER P. KOECHEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 923,511 Greenbaum June 1, 1909 1,195,754 Weber Aug. 22, 1916 2,008,909 Hershey July 23, 1935 2,057,911 Obergfell Oct. 20, 1936 2,168,443 Johnson Aug. 8, 1939 2,229,737 Handley Jan. 28, 1941 2,398,987 Ziebolz Apr. 23, 1946 2,477,395 Sunstein July 26, 1949 

